December
3, 2000
Luke 21:25-36
[Jesus continued,] "It will seem like all hell has broken
loose -- sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, in an uproar and everyone
all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by
the threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking.
"And then--then!--they'll see the Son of Man welcomed in
grand style--a glorious welcome! When all this starts to happen,
up on your feet. Stand stall with your heads high. Help is on
the way!"
He told them a story, "Look at a fig tree. Any tree for that
matter.When the leaves begin to show, one look tells you that
summer is right around the corner. The same here--when you see
these things happen, you know God's kingdom is about here. Don't
brush this off: I'm not just saying this for some future generation,
but for this one, too--these things will happen. Sky and earth
will wear out; my words won't wear out.
"But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation
get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that
Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly
like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at
once. So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray
constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it
through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before
the Son of Man."
"THE MESSAGE"
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1.
Advent begins. We hear the warning siren about the future, near
and far. We know we need to be paying attention. Advent draws
us near to the need for hope in the midst of disaster. In the
midst of disaster we wait to see the "Son of Man."
2.
Before we get to the culmination of hope we are in constant danger
of easing back on our focus and intention to pay enough attention
that we won't get overwhelmed with disaster--both personal and
global. This calls us to the process of prayer. Prayer beyond
the personal is needed here. One of the great gifts is communal
prayer that will hold one when one cannot hold oneself in prayer
and prayer able to be given by one when another finds their self
slipping from prayer. Since this is a story told to a group the
prayer also needs to have a group component to it.
3.
So we prepare for the unexpected by not being surprised at any
turn life takes. We aren't surprised when the best among us disappoint
and are disappointed. We aren't surprised with the worst among
us comes through--gloriously. Out of not being surprised we take
a step toward wisdom and find ourselves ready to stand surprised
that we have come through. Not being surprised leads directly
to a large surprise. Surprise!